Cigar Mile Stakes Card Fields Taking Shape

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Fields are taking shape for the Nov. 29 Cigar Mile (gr. I) stakes program at Aqueduct Racetrack, featuring four graded events worth a combined $1.7 million.



The $500,000 Cigar Mile is the centerpiece of a program that also includes a pair of grade II juvenile stakesthe $400,000 Remsen and the $400,000 Demoiselleas well as the $400,000 Comely (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies.

 

The prestigious Cigar Mile on dirt is likely to attract a diverse group of horses from all over the country led by a pair of California invaders, Secret Circle and last year's runner-up, Private Zone.



Secret Circle is without a win in 2014 but is coming off a close second-place finish in the Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), a race he won last year. The Bob Baffert trainee, owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman, has not raced beyond six furlongs since he placed second in the 2012 edition of the Arkansas Derby (gr. I).



Trained by Alfredo Velazquez for Good Friends Stable, Private Zone most recently ran third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, 1 1/4 lengths behind Secret Circle. The son of Macho Uno   also used the Sprint as a steppingstone to the Cigar Mile last year. Private Zone set a solid pace at odds of 32-1 in the 2013 renewal, and was overtaken in the final sixteenth of a mile by Flat Out   to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths.



The fourth-place finisher from the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Bourbon Courage, is also likely to contest the Cigar Mile. Last at the furlong mark, Bourbon Courage finished with a flourish in the Sprint to make up 10 lengths and was beaten by only two for trainer Kellyn Gorder and Bourbon Lane Stable.



Transparent, who set a track record at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park in his latest outing, is probable for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The Cigar Mile wasn't initially in the plans for the Godolphin color-bearer, but his last race was so impressive he earned a spot in the race, according to McLaughlin.



Woodward (gr. I) winner Itsmyluckyday   is likely for trainer Eddie Plesa and Trilogy Stable. The son of Lawyer Ron is coming off a third-place finish in the Kelso Handicap (gr. II) as the odds-on favorite.



Florida-shipper Atreides, West Coast-based Regally Ready, and Kelso winner Vyjack are also probable for the Cigar Mile.



The 1 1/8-mile Remsen is celebrating its 100th edition with a field nine appearing probable.



Trainer Todd Pletcher fields Starlight Racing's recent maiden winner Royal Burgh along with Eric Fein's New York-bred stakes winner Ostrolenka, trying open company for the first time.



Trainers McLaughlin and Dale Romans are each pointing two colts to the Remsen as well.

Representing McLaughlin's barn will be Classy Class, a four-length maiden winner Oct. 25 at Belmont, and Godolphin's Frosted, a front-running victor Oct. 30 at the Big A in his third start.

Romans is expected to saddle Keen Ice, most recently fifth in the Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland, along with the maiden Thirtysevenliveson.



Also expected is the Ken McPeek-conditioned The Truth Or Else, third in his two most recent starts, the Champagne and the Nashua (gr. II) at Aqueduct Nov. 2. Maiden winners Combat Diver and Eh Cumpari are also probable.



Condo Commando, a 13 1/4-length winner in the Spinaway (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, heads the probables for the 93rd Demoiselle, also at 1 1/8 miles. The Rudy Rodriguez trainee was third in her most recent start, Belmont's Frizette (gr. I).



Also likely for the Demoiselle are Tempted (gr. III) winner Jacaranda; Calamity Kate, ninth in the Alcibiades (gr. I) at Keeneland; Gap Year, who broke her maiden following a seventh-place finish in the Alicibiades; Quezon, winner of the Maid of the Mist for New York-breds last time out, and Save Rock and Roll, third in the Tempted.



Undefeated Dame Dorothy is likely to headline the Comely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.



Trained by Todd Pletcher for celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the bay filly by Bernardini   is 4-for-4 this year and will be making her return to Aqueduct, where she broke her maiden in November 2013. Most recently, she won the $200,000 Turnback the Alarm (gr. III) at Belmont by a half length.



Sweet Reason, a multiple grade I-winning filly, is probable to run for trainer Leah Gyarmati and owner Treadway Racing Stable. Sweet Reason looks to stretch out following an eighth-place finish in the DraftKings Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I).



Catch My Drift, who finished second to Dame Dorothy in the Turnback the Alarm, is also probable. The Chad Brown-trained filly for Hidden Brook Farm is 3-for-5 lifetime, and has picked up a pair of allowance victories at Parx Racing and Monmouth Park.



Godolphin is expected to have a trio of runners for the Comely: Penwith, who finished third in the Indiana Oaks (gr. II), and Divided Attention, coming off a troubled trip in the Raven Run (gr. II) at Keenelandboth trained by Kiaran McLaughlinand Snowbell, trained by Tom Albertrani.



Other likely runners include House Rules and America.